A Dutch manufacturer has announced the first commercial flying car

The moment we’ve all been waiting for since 1985 when Christopher Lloyd promised us flying cars in Back to the Future has finally arrived.

The Pal-V Liberty, described by the company as “a car that flies, a plane that drives” is able to turn from drive mode to flight mode in just 10 minutes.

In its “car mode”, it can reach speeds up to 160 km/h; in it’s flying configuration, it can go up to 180 km/h.

The slick hybrid vehicle only requires a between 90 and 200 metres to take off.

Definitely NOT targeted to families, this Dutch invention can only accommodate a driver and one passenger. The vehicle is already certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Manufacturers say they’re aiming to put their product in the skies and roads of the world by next year.

“The PAL-V Liberty we deliver to your doorstep complies with the existing regulations for both flying and driving. In other words, it is ready to be instantly enjoyed,” the company says.

“Airborne or gliding through the winding roads just minutes later. Pure excitement without delay.”

Although the final production model has not been manufactured yet, and very few shots of the machine actually flying are included in their promotional material, the PAL-V is available to buy right now.

The company is putting out two versions. The “Pioneer”, which will be limited to 90 units, features a number of bells and whistles including a handcrafted interior and various customisation options.

The second model, named “Sport”, will feature a standard configuration and a lower price tag.

The limited-edition Pioneer model will retail for about A$800,000, while the Sport edition will sell for around A$480,000.

PAL-V is not alone in their attempt to put a flying car into the market. Recently, Bell Helicopter revealed their design for an electric taxi to be used by Uber, while the autonomous electric passenger drone built by Airbus made its first successful test flight earlier this year.

About the author

Filmmaker. 3D artist. Procrastination guru. I spend most of my time doing VFX work for my upcoming film Servicios Públicos, a sci-fi dystopia about robots, overpopulated cities and tyrant states. @iampineros